Protective device such as umbrella, sunshade or the like



Sept. 27, 1966 3,275,815

ANNE-MARIE GOLAZ NEE PETROFF ETAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE sucn AS UMBRELLA,SUNSHADE on THE LIKE Filed Sept. 30, 1963 INVENTOKS GERAR o AJTNJ.conoouuisg 4/11/10,! Willi/I71 United States Patent 3,275,815 PROTECTIVEDEVICE SUCH AS UMBRELLA,

SUNSHADE OR THE LIKE Anne-Marie Golaz, ne Petrotf, Le Barroux, GrardAnatole Frangois Marie Joseph 3 Rue de la Marne, Ville dAvray, FranceFiled Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,746 Claims priority, applicationFrance, Oct. 1, 1962, 910,863, Patent 1,354,814 6 Claims. (Cl. 2406.42)

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a protective device,such as an umbrella, which accords suitable lighting so as to facilitatethe users movements and to announce his presence, for instance, tomotorists.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighting sourceincorporated in the protective device, this source being so arranged asto illuminate the fabric of this protective device such as an umbrella,so as to obtain, by diffusion, the lighting up of an area surroundingthe user and that the beams difiused by the fabric announce the presenceof the user, more particularly to motorists.

Another object of the invention is to place the lighting device insidethe handle of the protective device so that the light beam emerges fromthe lower end of the handle so as to obtain suitable lighting, whetherthe handle be straight or curved.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be revealed by thedescription and claims hereafter and the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the device placed at the end of an umbrella or the likewith a straight handle,

France, and Cordonnier,

FIGURE 2 shows the device according to the invention placed at the endof a curved handle,

FIGURE 3 shows the light beam lighting up the fabric of an umbrella.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show other methods of embodiment of the lighting deviceincorporated in the end of a curved handle.

FIGURE 6 shows another form of embodiment of the lighting device,

FIGURE 6a shows the reflecting surfaces utilized in the lighting deviceof FIGURE 6,

FIGURES 7 and 7a show another form of embodiment of the device accordingto the invention.

The present invention relates to an umbrella provided with anindependent battery or accumulator light source enabling direct orindirect lighting for multiple purposes. It also relates, by extension,to parasol-s and sunshades or other light protective articles,dismountable and transportable, for instance.

The utilizing of an umbrella by night, during rainy Weather, is veryoften accompanied by walking along sodden roads, covered with puddlesthat can hardly be seen, and it would be highly appreciated if it werepossible to be surrounded by a lighted area enabling one to see whereyou are stepping. Furthermore, the visibility of automobile driversbeing greatly limited during wet weather, it is most desirable toincrease the safety of the pedestrian by making his presence luminous,without dazzling, however.

For these two reasons, the pedestrian might think of providing himselfwith an electric torch, but very often his hands are not free suitablyto hold an additional object, and the main object of the invention is toincorporate a light source of this kind in the umbrella. Moreover, anordinary flash light cannot simultaneously throw a beam to the right andleft, front and rear. And, in a direction where it is visible, when seenfrom afar it only appears like a dazzling luminous point, whose distanceaway cannot be judged.

Patented Sept. 27, 1966 battery or rechargeable accumulator 3 with aspring contact such as 4. An end part 5 made, for example, in the shapeof an internally threaded ring and framing a lens '6 will enable theluminous field to be limited to an area considered suitable. Screwing inmore or less tightly 5 can eventually enable this field to be regulatedby altering the distance of the lens 6 from the bulb 1. The switch isnot shown, any type of switch being able to be combined with the presentinvention. In this first form of embodiment, the umbrella used normallywill light up the ground, but also part of the pedestrians clothingwhich is also made visible.

In a second form of embodiment (FIGURE 2), the umbrella comprises adismountable curved handle 7 eventually containing a conducting wire 8connecting the electric source 3 to the bulb 1. The bulb 1 combined withthe mirror 2 and the lens 6 lights the interior of the stretched fabricof the umbrella upwards (FIGURE 3). The latter can be more or less litup (zone AB), but preferably, the light beam will be concentrated insuch manner that it will not be uselessly wasted outside of the screenmade by the stretched fabric. The latter can be more or less reflecting,but preferably, it should be selected light and semi-transparent, sothat one part of the beam descends towards the ground in a field CD,whereas the other part is diffused by transparency, making the umbrellaluminous from all sides, even when sloping owing to the slant of therain. 7

In a third form of embodiment (FIGURE 4), an alternative of the second,the bulb 1 is placed in the immediate vicinity of the electric source 3as in FIGURE 1, but the dismountable end of the handle 9 either curvedor of polygonal shape, will be hollow and reflecting inside, except inthe transparent end part and eventuallymade by a lens 6.

In a fourth form of embodiment (FIGURE 5), the dismountable end of thehandle 3 is filled with a cluster of glass or plastic fibers conductingthe light to the. transparent end part. i

In a fifth form of embodiment (FIGURE 6), a hollow handle 9 reflectinginside channels the light upwards towards a reflecting cone 12 installedopposite windows 11. The latter can be actually cut out, or be thetransparent parts of the tube 9 not made reflecting. The angle of thecone should be chosen so as suitably to direct the beam reflectedannularly towards the fabric of the umbrella. FIGURE 3 shows two regionsE and F more or less high on the handle stafl', where the annularoptical device of FIG. 6 could be mounted. The light beam could berising, .if the light source is in the handle, or descending if thecomponent 12 is placed with the battery in the upper end point of theumbrella staff above the shade, outside of the fabric, for example, anddismountable. FIGURE 6a also diagrams 'an arrangement of the 'bulbenclosed between two annular mirrors 17 and 17 device 2 can thus be madeup of several diflerent curvature and orientation zones, spherical orotherwise. Thus in FIGURE 7a the reflecting surface 2 consists of threereflecting portions 2 and 2 .and 2 the portion 2 embracing the lowerpart of the bulb '1 Whereas the middle portion 2 will be moreparticularly intended to receive the .beamisent. by the cone 16(projecting or hollow) whose rounded edge will concentrate on this zone2 an annular image of the source. Its orientation willbe such that thebeam coming directly from the source, and

the beamreflected will both be introduced into the an-' nular zone 13with a suitable slope. V Lastly, the zone 2 is intended to send thelateral beam 1 of the bulb 1 directly into the annular zone. The sixpreceding forms of embodiment are only given by way of examples ofembodiments, and by no means limit the generality of the invention whichcould, for instance, comprise several bulbs, and on the fabric, variousreflecting or diffusing zones enabling various aesthetic or otherdecorations to be added to the essential object of the invention. Also,a lateral window can be provided in the stick or handle, close to thebulb, for instance, so that part of the beam may be .used to light upsundry objects close at hand, such as purse, note-book, etc.

What we claim is:

1. A protective device such as an umbrella, sunshade ,and the like,comprising a hollow handle assembly including a staff having a handle atits lower end and supporting an openable dome shaped shade formed oftranslucent fabric at its upper end, said staff having a bore whose wallsurface is 'a reflector, means for passage of light out of said stafflocated in an upper portion of the staff, a light source including alamp disposed coaxially in said hollow handle, a reflector assemblysurrounding the lamp and directing light upwardly through said bore anda conical reflecting element located in said staff adpassage of lightout of the staff and directing light outwardly and upwardly against theunderjacent said means for side of substantially the entire fabric domewhen opened whereby the fabric diffuses part of the light downwardly andthe remaining part is diffused through the fabric :to render theprotective device visible from a distance without the lamp beingdirectly visible in a bright and dazzling manner.

2. A protective device as set forth in claiml wherein SU1'- face 17which ismade with a suitable curvature. The,

said means for passage of light out of said staff com prises. one ormore windows in the staff.

3. A protective device asset forth 1n claim 1 wherein said means forpassage of =-light out of thestafl comprises a portion of said staffformed of transparent material.

4. A protective device such as an umbrella, sunshade and the like,comprising a handle assembly including :a

rod-like stafi having a hollow handle at its lower portion; 4 andsupporting an openable dome shaped shade formedv of translucent fabricat its upper end; at least one annular transparent block mounted in saidhandle around the lower portion of said staff; a light;source includinga lamp disposed coaXia-lly in the handle; a reflector assemblysurrounding the lamp'and directing light upwardly, to and through saidannular; block, said rod-like staff having a reflective surface at its.

lower end above saidreflector assembly to redirect light thereto,whereby the fabric. reflects part of the light downwardly and theremaining part is diffused through the fabric to render the protectivedevice I visible" from a distance without the lamp being directlyvisible ina bright I and dazzling manner.

5. A protective device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said reflectivesurface of the lower end of :the rod-like memberhas. a conical sectionand focuses light downwardly and outwardly, said reflector assemblycomprising a reflector having a first, second and third adjacentportions of different curvatures and orientations; said third;

portion surrounding the lamp, said first and third portions reflectingthe light coming stantially smaller than said first portion andconnectssaid first and third portions, said second portion :bOlhreflecting the light coming directly from the lamp and the lightreflected from the said reflective surface of the lower end.

of the staff.

6. A protective device as set, forth in claim 5 wherein said annulartransparent block has inner and outer cylindrical surfaces formed aslight reflectors.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER,Primary Examiner.

EVON BLUNK, Examiner.

C. C. LOGAN, Assistant Examtiner.

lower portion of said hollow.

directly from the lamp, said second portion being an annular portionwhich is sub

1. A PROTECTIVE DEVICE SUCH AS AN UMBRELLA, SUNSHADE AND THE LIKE,COMPRISING A HOLLOW HANDLE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A STAFF HAVING A HANDLE ATITS LOWER END AND SUPPORTING AN OPENABLE DOME SHAPED SHADE FORMED OFTRANSLUCENT FABRIC AT ITS UPPER END, SAID STAFF HAVING A BORE WHOSE WALLSURFACE IS A REFLECTOR, MEANS FOR PASSAGE OF LIGHT OUT OF SAID STAFFLOCATED IN AN UPPER PORTION OF THE STAFF, A LIGHT SOURCE INCLUDING ALAMP DISPOSED COAXIALLY IN SAID HOLLOW HANDLE, A REFLECTOR ASSEMBLYSURROUNDING THE LAMP AND DIRECTING LIGHT UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID BORE ANDA CONICAL REFLECTING ELEMENT LOCATED IN SAID STAFF ADJACENT SAID MEANSFOR PASSAGE OF LIGHT OUT OF THE STAFF AND DIRECTING LIGHT OUTWARDLY ANDUPWARDLY AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE FABRIC DOMEWHEN OPENED WHEREBY THE FABRIC DIFFUSES PART OF THE LIGHT DOWNWARDLY ANDTHE REMAINING PART IS DIFFUSED THROUGH THE FABRIC TO RENDER THEPROTECTIVE DEVICE VISIBLE FROM A DISTANCE WITHOUT THE LAMP BEINGDIRECTLY VISIBLE IN A BRIGHT AND DAZZLING MANNER.